Wine, jazz festival moving to North Strabane

By Linda Metz

Staff writer

lmetz@observer-reporter.com

Observer-Reporter photo

Pittsburgh guitarist Eric Susoeff opens the first Washington Wine, Jazz and Pops Festival in August 2011 at Mingo Creek County Park in Nottingham Township. The annual event is moving this year to the new park in North Strabane Township.

Over the past two years, the annual Washington Wine, Jazz and Pops Festival has proven to be a great fundraiser for the county’s Mental Health Association.

Since its start, nearly 2,000 people have attended the two-day event at Mingo Creek County Park the first weekend in August. There, they’ve enjoyed sipping on an array of wines while eating some of the area’s finest foods and swaying to the beats of music provided by local jazz and pops performers, along with the Washington Symphony Orchestra.

While Mingo Park has proven to be a great location for the event, this year’s festival is moving to North Strabane Township Municipal Park.

Located along Route 519 behind the municipal building, the park will be more accessible to major thoroughfares such as Route 19 and interstates 70 and 79. The 9 1/2-acre park also has pavilions with amenities and paved parking, things that a lot of festival attendees will be pleased with, Loresch said.

“We believe it will draw a wider audience, especially those people living in Allegheny County,” she said. “Mingo Park was great, but there’s so much more available to us here.”

Loresch added, “And, the township people seem so excited to have us.”

North Strabane business manager Frank Siffrinn said township officials are definitely excited about hosting the event, which will be one of many special activities scheduled this year at the park.

The festival will be held this year from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 3 and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 4. Although the festival dates are set, the lineup of performers has not been determined.